Research methods: Practical tools for programming and running studies 3201-LST-OC-RM4

Module 1. Using Gorilla in linguistic research.

Week 1: Introduction to Psycholinguistic Experimental Methodology
 Overview of psycholinguistic research
 Key areas: language processing, acquisition, and production
 Types of experimental designs in psycholinguistics
To adapt the rest of the sessions to the students’ preferences, they will briefly present their
MA thesis topics.
Week 2: Getting Started with Gorilla for Psycholinguistics - Questionnaires
 Introduction to Gorilla Questionnaires Builder
 Navigating the Gorilla interface for questionnaires
Task: Setting up a basic linguistic experience questionnaire
Week 3: Getting Started with Gorilla for Psycholinguistics - Tasks
 Introduction to Gorilla Experimental Builder
 Navigating the Gorilla interface for psycholinguistic tasks
Task: Setting up a basic psycholinguistic experiment (e.g., lexical decision task)
Week 4: Designing Psycholinguistic Experiments in Gorilla
 Creating and customizing language tasks (e.g., lexical decision, sentence processing)
 Stimulus presentation for language studies
 Implementing randomization in psycholinguistic experiments
Task: Setting up a psycholinguistic task (based on students’ preferences) – Part I
Week 5: Advanced Features in Gorilla for Psycholinguistics
 Conditional logic and branching for complex language tasks
 Integrating multimedia (audio, visual stimuli) for psycholinguistic experiments
 Using Gorilla’s scripting capabilities for advanced psycholinguistic experiments
Task: Setting up a psycholinguistic task (based on students’ preferences) – Part II
Week 6: Pilot Study – Checking for Errors and Solving Them
Task: Setting up a psycholinguistic task (based on students’ preferences) – Part III
Week 7: Data Collection and Management in Psycholinguistics
 Setting up participant recruitment for language studies
 Data collection techniques in psycholinguistics
 Managing and exporting psycholinguistic data in Gorilla
Task: Implement a participant recruitment plan

Module 2. Using PsychoPy in linguistic research
The aim of this module is to familiarize students with basic functionalities
of the PsychoPy software which are used to design and carry out reaction time experiments in
linguistic research. This module introduces basic reaction time concepts as well as historical
and methodological background concerning reaction time research. Above all, the module
places focus on practical perspectives as well as on using reaction time experiments in
linguistic research. The module will discuss elements which are necessary to prepare the
experiment and to carry out precise measurements. The module will also discuss issues
concerning the analysis of data gathered during a reaction time experiment. Students will get
acquainted with basic types of reaction type experiments used in the field of linguistics; they

will also acquire practical skills with regard to designing and preparing a given type of
experiment using PsychoPy software.

Topics:
1. Getting to know PsychoPy Builder
2. Building your first experiment: basic structure
3. Using text, images and dynamic stimuli
4. Randomization, blocks and counterbalancing
5. Using the mouse as input: visual search
6. Working with timing and feedback
7. Adding simple code components